Distaste for Lavrov Forces U.S. to Cancel G20 Photo Session in Atlanta
Some European foreign ministers had refused to pose alongside Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, at a Group of 20 gathering hosted by the United States.
Advertisement
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
Some European foreign ministers had refused to pose alongside Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, at a Group of 20 gathering hosted by the United States.
Listen
· 4:40 min
Oct. 30, 2026
A U.S.-hosted gathering of foreign ministers got off to an awkward start on Friday when a planned group photo was canceled after some diplomats refused to pose alongside Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov.
The ministers are in Atlanta for a two-day meeting of the Group of 20, a forum of major nations that seek to coordinate global economic and political policy.
Russia is a longtime member of the group, which also includes Brazil, Japan, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan and several European states. But many European diplomats believe that Russian officials like Mr. Lavrov should be shunned over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Atlanta, Poland’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, said the photo cancellation was “the right decision.”
“I am not the only one who does not want to be photographed with Lavrov,” he added.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is hosting the event, made the decision to cancel the traditional photo, according to a senior U.S. official. Another U.S. official said that after it became clear that some attendees were unwilling to participate in a joint photo, Mr. Rubio acted so the matter would not distract from substantive issues at the event.
Mr. Lavrov has been under U.S. sanctions since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. He led his country’s talks with the United States ostensibly meant to avert the war, although Biden administration officials later concluded that those talks were not in good faith.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Advertisement
Originally published by nytimes.com. Syndicated material does not necessarily reflect the views of Glamour Canada.
